Woman Says Her Swimsuit Got Her Kicked Out Of Pool Because She Might Excite The Local Teen Boys

By: Mackenzie Wright | January 11, 2019

A couple moved into an apartment complex in Tennessee. One of the perks that the complex offered was a swimming pool. Considering how hot and muggy the southern state can get in the summertime, it was a nice amenity to have.

When the woman showed up at the pool in a one-piece bathing suit, however, she got numerous complaints and was told she had to leave. The woman believes that she is the victim of sexual harassment.

Tori Jenkins went to the pool at the Smoky Crossing Apartments when she was confronted by the staff. They told her that they had gotten several complaints about her swimsuit and asked her to change or leave the pool.

Jenkins was shocked. She was wearing a one-piece pink bathing suit, and saw nothing out of the ordinary about it. It was not particularly skimpy, nor was it a thong. She admitted that it occasionally rode up on her and had to be adjusted, but just about all women's swimsuits are like that.

Jenkins' fiancé, Tyler Newman, was furious when it happened. “Today my fiancée was faced with either changing her bathing suit, covering up with shorts, or leaving the pool," he wrote in a Facebook post, featuring images of Jenkins in the bathing suit in question.

“She was told that her body, because it’s built more curvy than others, is ‘too inappropriate’ for children to be around. She was told ‘there are a lot of teenage boys in this complex, and you don’t need to excite them’,” Newman added.

Newman believes that what his fiancé experienced is cultural sexism, and he believes it was sexual harassment. He notes that these attitudes contribute to rape culture.

"Today my fiancée was told that she is less important than how men feel around her. That Tori is less important than a man’s urges to be sexual towards her. I think she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, but I also respect her. I would never make her or any other woman feel less than what she’s worth because of her outfit or her looks. This is how rape culture continues to grow," he explained.

The pool dress code notes that residents must wear 'duly appropriate attire', which leaves leeway based on what people think is appropriate. For most, a one-piece bathing suit is appropriate, and far less skimpy than some of the things spotted on public beaches.

Some 32,000 people reacted to the post, supporting Jenkins and complaining about the staff at the complex.

"I am so sorry this happened to your fiancé. The parents of these 'teenage boys' ought to teach their sons to be responsible," said one person.

"That's ridiculous! There's absolutely nothing wrong with her swimsuit. I'm larger and curvier and wear one to the pool with my children. But I wear bikinis at the beach. People can choose to look or not. It's not my problem, it's theirs," said another woman.

Jenkins thanked everyone for the support she received on her own Facebook page, and shot back at critics who said she didn't post a front-facing photo to give viewers a complete look of the suit.

“There was a front facing picture. I took it down after reading so many hateful comments about my stomach and so many intensely explicit sexual comments. That is the whole issue. I will not be reposting it because that isn’t the area of my body in question,” she said.

“Ms. Jenkins and Mr. Newman are valued members of our community. However, we feel it is inappropriate to equate requesting Ms. Jenkins to cover up with sexual harassment or ‘rape culture’. Smoky Crossing denounces harassment in all forms,” said the apartment complex in a statement.